To tip stiff or not to tip stiff.

[markTHEblake]

I am a couple of days away from buying some new iron shafts. The ones I have were fitted to me 9.5 years ago, and I think I might need something a bit girly ,as i am probably a little older than i was.

I could go and try a bunch of different shafts somewhere, but I don't really have the patience and Virge knocked me back anyway. I will probably end up going to GCI, but interested to hear some learned opinions, and endure the rest.

My concern is that if I weaken any aspect of my shaft spec - that might only have negative effects.

My current fitting of Rifle Lite 6.5, High Bend, Firm Tip, 5i 121grams 38.25", and D5 was based on;
Swing Speed 5i of 93mph (rssr 88mph), and the want of hitting lower with accuracy.

My swing path is a very consistent In to Out 4deg. My bad shots are bleeding obvious, a huge block or a hook - with long irons usually a fat hook (drop kick) not helped much by my tendency to flip.

I also tend to hit many thin shots - although effective. Thats something I am very keen to eliminate - cos it hurts in the winter. I would also like to get a bit of height back.

Going to a slightly softer shaft is a no brainer, but almost everything I look at is a medium tip. My concern is a softer tip could accentuate my hook.

[kwantfm]

You should try the Nippon 1150 GH Tour. Great feeling shaft... a little lighter than the S300s that I usually play. Good solid tip (more so than the other Nippon steels). Plays slightly soft to flex compared to DG. They'll have them at GCI for you to try.

[BrisVegas]

IMy current fitting of Rifle Lite 6.5, High Bend, Firm Tip, 5i 121grams 38.25", and D5 was based on;
Swing Speed 5i of 93mph (rssr 88mph), and the want of hitting lower with accuracy.

Do you still swing 5 iron at 93mph? 6.5 Rifles are pretty friggin stiff. poidda had 6.5's in his last set and was struggling with them and he swings in the mid-90's.

I think you need to go back to GCI and get them to take a decent look at your swing speed, tempo and loading etc... 9 years is a long time to go between fittings.

It's only $50 :wink: (I just realised who I'm talking to here... :roll:)

[3oneday]

Swing Speed 5i of 93mph (rssr 88mph), and the want of hitting lower with accuracy.
Well, one doesn't complement the other.

You wouldn't be getting much feel with the shafts ? I tried X100 in a set a while ago, they were damned hard to hit 100 practice balls with but I could still hook them easily.

Why don't you get a couple of 6 irons made up, say with Rifle 6.0 and get one a couple of degrees flatter than usual ? Just a thought.

[virge666]

Going to a slightly softer shaft is a no brainer, but almost everything I look at is a medium tip. My concern is a softer tip could accentuate my hook.

I think lighter would be a good start... so Project X flighted would also be good option @ 110g

SupaLites at X Flex... or S300 if you play in the morning...

Softer tip will NOT accentuate the hook or block... just make the hands hurt less.

:)

[markTHEblake]

Do you still swing 5 iron at 93mph? 6.5 Rifles are pretty friggin stiff. yes I know. Thats because I wanted to hit it lower and straighter.

i have had my swing speed tested many times over the years since, at GCI and several other places - its either the same or a fraction faster.

In any case like I said, I am most probably going back there anyway, am somewhat interested in a MOI set, but thats another story. There is so much more to fitting than using Speed to Stiffness table, and thats what I am interested in. Nothing wrong with a bit of self assessment, it makes their recommendations easier to understand.


It's only $50 Only for you tyrekickers, not me.

I am mainly interested in the impact of a softer tip. The Tip stiffness effects the ability of the golfer to return the clubface to square. If you are a gay fader you might want a soft tip for example. I am wondering if I go to a medium tip, that might make me hit bigger hooks, OR it might make me self correct and straighten me up a bit.

There is at least one person here who can answer that question with some degree of expereince. ;-)

[markTHEblake]

You wouldn't be getting much feel with the shafts ?

When I first got them, they felt magnificent, and were so easy to hit. Apart from about 5 hits with some crappy clubs at a demo day, i have never hit anything else since. So I wouldnt know how to compare feel. I dont have any issues with hitting these clubs when playing well (or practising) but we all know that isnt often for most golfers.


Why don't you get a couple of 6 irons made up, say with Rifle 6.0 and get one a couple of degrees flatter than usual ? Just a thought.

Good idea, but they would probably sit in the cupboard for 6 months while I think about it.



Softer tip will NOT accentuate the hook or block... just make the hands hurt less.

Thanks, Thats a very interesting comment - been playing at 7am for a few weeks now, and those early morning stingers are a killer - the top of the right ring finger is numb for about 2 holes.

[virge666]

Thanks, Thats a very interesting comment - been playing at 7am for a few weeks now, and those early morning stingers are a killer - the top of the right ring finger is numb for about 2 holes.

Yeah - I know a lot of pro's who took their clubs into the room to stop the sore hands on early starts.. cold steel CPM's a lot stiffer that warm ones.

Softer tip just adds a bit more spin and a ever so slightly higher launch. It ain't going to open or close the clubface on you

[BrisVegas]

found this interesting comparison between DG & Project X....

http://www.fittingworks.com/TechnologyProcess/FittingResearch/Fitters%27Forum/ForumDiscussionwithTrueTemperSports.aspx

& part 2..
http://www.fittingworks.com/TechnologyProcess/FittingResearch/Fitters%27Forum/ForumDiscussionwithTrueTemperSports(Part2).aspx

[Boonie]

With that swing speed, and a tendency to hit it thin, I wouldn't go lighter if I were you.

I would go with a bit of extra weight if anything and get the flex right. S300's sound perfect